geez - somebody tell this guy I do ONE question at a time..........

1) - if you can't figure out why a person needs a flashlight in a blackened room, to find the way out...especially if he/she hasta go Pee....I can't help ya, child.  I guess you can just pee where you stand.    If that soul  wansta fumble thru life, being the brunt of any casual negative energy directed its way...if he/she wansta have NO goals of any value, no beliefs he/she holds dear, no thoughts cherished, and no desire to share what is valuable with others, be they like-minded or not....then I guess that person has no need for a creed.

but i bet that person is going to be awfully lonely in this life - very unhappy.... unsuccessful at anything he/she decides to do (since it will be a half-ass attempt)...and he/she will be beseiged by events (waking and asleep) beyond the comprehension to embrace and accept, let alone to release.     sound familiar to anyone you know?

2) of course it helps.  when ya build a swingset - don't ya lay the parts out before ya start building (unless ya have done it before).  It always helps to "work" the definition according to whether you like details, or SWAGS, or writing on a knapkin - or keeping it all inside your mind.   whatever works for you.  that IS the idea, ya know: a Working Creed.

3) winston C said it best," the only thing to fear is fear itself."   I would add to his statement - that "ignorance and greed are nasty traveling companions.  The first can get you into hot water, the second will leave you there."

4) if performance based on your Creed (what I refer to as "performance of protocol") is important to you, sure it's wise to pay attention to what you do and how you do it.   the Phrase "pay chilled scrupulous attention"  will explain and define all you need to know about that can of beans.

5) ha ha ha.  Loaded question    you're in a blackened room.  your goal; to get out.  you have a choice; open your senses to what is happening in the room, or don't open your senses and hope someone else grabs your lazy ass and drags you out by the gonads.

then someone lights a match.  If you're aware, you use the risk as opportunity - to get the hell out.  If you're not aware - you miss the flaring of the sulphur, you miss the light within the dark, expanding opportunity within the risk (you can get burned grabbing flaring sulphur) - and you go on blissfully ignorant of the doorknob on the Crack of the Wurld.

You take it by the hairs - as hard as you can - every day you can --- and be thankful for the opportunity, baby